Fresh details have emerged in the investigation into the September 30 Flydubai Flight FZ1073 incident, with media reports stating that Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami told investigators that he had planned to crash the aircraft into Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport.
According to reports, Hammami said that the plan was premeditated and that he had researched airlines operating flights to Tel Aviv before joining Flydubai. He reportedly chose an airline operating the Tel Aviv route as part of the plan.
The interrogation account says Hammami intended to carry out the attack after the aircraft reached Israel. He planned to incapacitate or kill Indian Captain Smit Machchhar, continue the flight normally and obtain the necessary landing clearances before deliberately crashing the aircraft into a building or another aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport.
The plan, according to the reports, was designed to make the flight appear normal until the final moments, leaving little opportunity for authorities to intervene.
Reportedly Planned Attack Before Joining Flydubai
Media reports further state that Hammami had contemplated such an attack even before joining Flydubai.
He allegedly told investigators that he had specifically looked for an airline operating flights to Tel Aviv. Reports also claim that he had travelled to Israel several times while working as a pilot and that, during one visit, he gathered information relevant to the alleged plan.
The reports further state that Hammami had considered carrying out an attack in July but abandoned the plan because of his relationship with members of the crew.
OMANI CO-PILOT HAMAM AL HAMMAMI’s CONFESSIONS UNDER INTERROGATION (according to media reports):
1️⃣ Planned the attack BEFORE joining Flydubai.
2️⃣ Specifically sought an airline flying to Tel Aviv.
3️⃣ Visited Israel several times as a Flydubai pilot.
4️⃣ Used a June visit to Ben Gurion to gather intelligence.
5️⃣ Planned to carry out the attack in JULY.
6️⃣ Aborted the July attempt because he’d befriended a crew member.
7️⃣ Planned to kill Capt Smit Machchhar inside the locked cockpit.
8️⃣ Intended to continue towards Israel appearing to be a NORMAL flight.
9️⃣ Planned a last-second crash into Ben Gurion Airport, a building or another aircraft.
🔟 Backup plan if Israel became unreachable: crash into a US military base in Jordan.
— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) October 5, 2026
Investigators are examining whether the alleged plot was developed over an extended period and whether Hammami had prepared for an attack before gaining access to the cockpit of a commercial aircraft.
Captain Machchhar Survived Attack
The confession comes after Hammami attacked Captain Smit Machchhar during the September 30 flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
According to accounts of the incident, Machchhar was seriously injured during the attack while the aircraft entered a steep descent. Despite his injuries, he managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to intervene. Two off-duty pilots travelling on the aircraft also helped regain control of the plane.
The aircraft was subsequently diverted and made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
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